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The application phase for the Green Alley Award ends by 27th July 2016. Make sure you don’t miss the deadline and apply now for the European circular economy award.

Start-ups and young entrepreneurs from all across Europe can still apply for the 2016 Green Alley Award by July 27th. We’re looking for the best business models centred on the circular economy, resource conservation, and recycling. Founders can submit their ideas and concepts on the Green Alley Award website.

Establishing a circular economy is very high on the European Commission’s agenda – not least because it estimates the annual savings from waste reduction, eco-friendly design, recycling, and similar measures to be 600 billion euros. By the end of 2016, the Commission intends to adopt a new EU circular economy package with ambitious goals, which will need investment and innovation – good news for pioneering thinkers with good business ideas.

This year, the Green Alley Award is focussing on Finland, the very model of a green economy. Not only do the Finns boast a high level of environmental awareness, the country is also one of the few in Europe that has already developed strategies for more efficient use of resources, as revealed by a new report from the European Environment Agency.

“Engineers and technicians, as designers and makers of the future, will be at the forefront of thinking about things like a circular economy and a greener future,“ says Naomi Climer, President of Britain’s Institute of Engineering and Technology and patron of the 2016 Green Alley Award. “The Green Alley Award is, therefore, a great way for young engineers and entrepreneurs to engage and develop green ideas that will affect our future economy and I’m delighted to be involved.”

From Climer’s many years of experience at the Sony group – where, among other things, she was Vice President for Professional Solutions Europe and responsible for a start-up project – the engineer also brings know-how in the international establishment of new business models.

The strongest applicants for the Green Alley Award will be invited to participate in the finals in Berlin in October 2016. In individual workshops with experts from the circular economy, founders will receive valuable advice on financing and business development. The startup with the most compelling approach will be selected by an international jury and receive a package of benefits and services worth 30,000 euros, including a chance at financing through investment and crowdfunding.